Una muda leo?

Una means you have.

In this sentence, the idea of you is built into u-, and the idea of have is expressed with -na / na. So Swahili does not need a separate word for you or a separate verb like English does in you have.

A simple way to think of it is:

• u- = you (singular)
• na = have / with

So Una muda leo? is structurally very compact.

Because Swahili usually puts the subject inside the verb form.

In una, the u- already tells you the subject is you (singular). That means Swahili often does not need an extra pronoun the way English does.

Compare:

• Una muda leo? = Do you have time today?
• adding wewe would make you more explicit: Wewe una muda leo?

But in normal conversation, wewe is usually unnecessary unless you want emphasis or contrast.

Swahili does not use an auxiliary like English do to make yes/no questions.

Instead, a sentence can become a question through:

• intonation in speech
• a question mark in writing
• sometimes the optional question word je

So:

• Una muda leo. = You have time today.
• Una muda leo? = Do you have time today?
• Je, una muda leo? = also Do you have time today?

All of these are natural, but the version without je is very common in everyday speech.

Muda means time, but in this kind of sentence it usually means free time, available time, or time to do something.

So here it is not just abstract clock time. It is more like:

• Do you have time today?
• Are you free today?
• Do you have a moment today?

The exact English wording depends on context, but muda here is about availability.

Leo means today.

Swahili often places time words like leo quite naturally at the end of the sentence, although word order can be somewhat flexible depending on emphasis.

So Una muda leo? is a very normal order:

• Una = you have
• muda = time
• leo = today

Placing leo at the end feels natural and clear: first the question about having time, then the time frame.

Yes. Una is for you when speaking to one person.

If you are speaking to more than one person, you would use mna:

• Una muda leo? = to one person
• Mna muda leo? = to more than one person

In many situations, using the plural can also sound more respectful, depending on region, context, and personal preference, but the basic grammar difference is singular vs. plural.

Yes. You can say:

• Je, una muda leo?

Je is an optional question marker. It helps signal clearly that a question is coming, especially in writing or in more careful speech.

However, in everyday conversation, people very often just say:

• Una muda leo?

So both are correct, but the version without je is often more conversational.

Yes, it is natural and useful.

Una muda leo? is a normal way to ask if someone has time today. Depending on the situation, speakers might also use other words with slightly different shades of meaning, for example:

• Una nafasi leo? = Do you have a chance / are you available today?
• Uko huru leo? = Are you free today?

But Una muda leo? is absolutely a natural everyday sentence.

Usually, muda is the better choice here.

Both words relate to time, but they are not used in exactly the same way:

• muda = duration, time available, a stretch of time
• wakati = time, period, moment, sometimes when

If you want to ask whether someone has time available, muda sounds more natural.

So:

• Una muda leo? = natural
• Una wakati leo? = less natural for this meaning

A few common answers are:

• Ndiyo, nina muda. = Yes, I have time.
• Ndiyo, nina muda leo. = Yes, I have time today.
• Hapana, sina muda. = No, I don’t have time.
• Sina muda leo. = I don’t have time today.

Notice the pattern:

• nina = I have
• sina = I do not have

So the sentence is useful not only for asking but also for practicing possession forms.

A simple English-friendly guide is:

OO-na MOO-da LEH-o?

A few helpful points:

• u sounds like oo
• a is a clear ah
• e in leo is usually a clear eh
• each vowel is pronounced clearly

So try to say each syllable distinctly:

U-na mu-da le-o

Swahili pronunciation is generally regular, so once you know the vowel sounds, sentences like this are fairly straightforward to pronounce.